Display sign



Dec. 25, 1928. 1,696,878

E. J. BLISS DISPLAY SIGN Filed June 5, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l L nlllllllllh.

Dec. 25

En J' BLISS DISPLAY SIGN 5 sheets-snee'c 2 Filed June 5, 1925 ,MIME

nl Il MEHR!!! DI SPLAY SIGN Filed June 5, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 mui/@ww Patented Dec.' 25, 1928. y

UNITED STATES 1,696,878 PATENT OFFICE.

ELHEB J'. BLISS, OF BOSTON, IASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO REGAL SHOE COMPANY, Ol' WHITMAN, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F MASSACHUSETTS.

nrsrnay sion.

Application illed June 5,

This invention relates to display signs and is intended to provide a device of this character adapted for public display on st ores or elsewhere which shall combine simplicity of construction with considerable variety in the effects roduced so that anyone,without tech-` nical s ill, may be able to vary the display conveniently by changing the character or appearance of the constituent elements of the gvliith this ob'ect in view the invention coniprises, generally s eaking, a sign embracing a hollow casing a apted to form a frame'or border for the display of lettersor other insignia, arranged in conjunction with interior illuminating lamps to be brightly illuminated and rendered conspicuous while, at the same time, the letters or other insignia ma be removed and replaced with others of di ferent color-or appearance, provision vbeing made valso for chanving'the removable vfront or border of the flame so that the name, for example, may be displa ed in different colors or different styles of ettering 1n conjunction with a border or frame which may also be varied at will.` These and other features of the invention will be described in the following specification and will bedeined in the claims hereto annexed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a construction and arrangement embodying the principles of this invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing the parts in assembled position.

vFigure 2is a top plan view showing the suspension means for supporting the sign.

Figure 3 is a vertical section, the farther end of the casing being shown in perspective.

Figure'4 is a front elevation of one of the removable border members.

Figure 5 is an edge view of such border member showing the attaching studs.

Figure 6 is a detail showing means for supporting one of the letters to the back of the sign.

Figures 7 and 8 are detail views ofindividual letters and their attaching elements.

Figure 9 is a perspective sectional view, similar to Figure 3, showing a slightly modified attaching means for attaching theremovable border members in service position.

In the practice of my invention, according to the form illustrated in the drawings, Il

1925. Serial No. 35,102.

provide a hollow or box-like casing preferably made of sheet metal, though other suitable material may be employed, and comprising a back or wall 1, preferably reenforced through its middle portion by a ieenf0r'n,0,r board or strip 1 into which the letter attach,-

`ing hooks 10 are driven through the back wall 1.

The top and bottom walls 2 and 4, aswell as the end walls 3,are of similar construe tion and form the peripheral wallsof thehollow box or casing. v The front of the casing is open in the middle and comprises an inwardly projecting border comprising top, bottom and 'side members 5 that are preferably inclinedk inwardly toward the back, leaving a.- large display opening exposing to View the back-wall. Behind the border 5 is disposed a channel or angle plate 6 which not only affords reenforcement for the inner portion of the border but alsoserves as a mount or support for' a series of illuminating or incandescent lamps 8. Symbols or letters 11, of any desired type or design, usually comprising different letters to spell the name or words on the sign, are provided with suitable means for removably attaching them to the' back-wall of the sign and, in this case, comprise screw eyes 11 screwed at suitable portions of the back of each letter to engage the above-mentioned hooks 10, as indicated in 4detail in Figure 6. In order to permit varying the border, as well as the`display matter comprising `the letters, I lprovide removable border members or plates 15, provided with rearwardly projecting threaded studs 16, adapted to pass through apertures in the permanent border wall 5, and to be secured in place by nuts 16, as shown in Figure 3. These border covers or removable border members 11 will be painted or enameled in various colors and designs z-o that, by removing one set of border covers and replacing them with another. a sign of different coloryor appearance will be easily and conveniently produced. At the same time another set of letters of different style, color or appearance may be substituted on the back-wall so that a complete change in the entire appearance of the sign is readily effected. f' j The electric lamps, while themselves conceale'd from the observer by the overhanging border, are nevertheless so arranged as to throw a strong light upon the front face of the letters, thus causing them'to stand out vividly as in an illuminated picture frame.

vThe attaching studs 16 are preferably formed with Hush heads, soldered or otherwise secured in the removable borders, and preferably obscured from sight by the ornamental coating of paint or enfamel which covers the front face of the removable border members.

Other ways of removably attachinv the border covers may be employed, an one such alternative is illustrated in Figure 9. In that form the covers 20 fare rovided with a reversely folded or hookike edge, as shown at 21, which hooks over the edge of the permanent border and has its outer edge rolled or turned back, as shown at 22, and clamped under a flanged strip 23 secured to the :front edge of the top 2.

To give desired strength or stiffness angle iron bar 18 may be secured at the corners where two angularly disposed walls meet, and to conveniently suspend the device where Vit is desired to suspend it the top is provided with suspension hooks or` eyes 2 projecting upwardly, and secured in braces iaving top and bottom horizontal extensions.

A sign of this type can always be kept fresh withthe a pearance of newness besides being capable o giving a. greatly varied dislay, since both the display letters and the rder can be changed very quickly without disturbin the permanent frame-work. It

Ais by ma ing the display border in sections a ater variet of a earanees can be produgcreed by using top Idldd bottom members contrasting in color or appearance with the side members.

The angle plates or channel 6 -are secured tothe permanent casing by soldering or spot welding at intervals to provide the desired stiffness and reinforcement.

What I claim is: 1. A display sign embracing in its conin position to illuminate objects dis layed on the back wallewhile'4 concealing t e lamps from outside view.

2. A; display sign embracing in its construction a hollow casing comprising a back wall, peripheral walls projeetin therefrom, and an interior bord inwardly to expose its front face to view and -also to the light of concealed illuminating lamps whenarranged behind the border in position to illuminate objects exposed on the back wall, display cover-plates of relatively distinctive appearance detachablyv secured to the front face of the border in order to transform thel appearance of the sign as desired, by the substitution of di'erent cover plates.

3. A display signembracing in its construction a hollow casing comprising a hack wall, ripheral walls projecting forwardly there rom, an inwardly inclined lborder projecting from the forward edges of the pcripheral Walls, to form an open front, demountable display covers of relatively distinctive appearance secured to the front faces of said border, demountable display letters attached to said back wall behind the open front portion of the border to ermitthe substitution of different letters, il uminating lamps arranged forwardly of the back wall and behind the border to illuminate both display letters and the border.

In witness whereof, I have subscribed the above specification.

ELMER J. BLISS.

forwardly er inclined` 

